Bihar records rise in women MLAs

The recent Bihar assembly polls saw 24 women legislators being elected to the 243-member Vidhan Sabha, the highest ever since 1952.

While the Janata Dal-United has nine women members of Legislative Assembly, Ramvilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party has six and the Bharatiya Janata Party has three. The Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal have two each. The other two are Independents.

Sukhda Pandey, BJP's MLA from Buxar, describes the rise in the number of women legislators as a reflection of the growing socio-political awareness among women in the state.

"The rise in the number of kidnappings and other crimes in the state had a direct bearing on women. And the overwhelming presence of women at polling booths was a reflection of their resentment against the situation," said Vandana Sinha, a schoolteacher.